Rebecca's Endurance (long)

[Pat Gluckin <a1234@gte.net>]

This is not intended to be a flame. I appreciate your concern and passion
for those persons you define as handicapped. There are so many factors that
can handicap a person's ability to accomplish what he/she would like to
accomplish and not all inabilities are disabilities. (I won't go into
varied clinical descriptors that classify handicapped people into categories.)

Political correctness defines them as handicapable. When I worked with
pre-primary impaired, physically/orthopedically impaired, emotionally
impaired, autistic, and pre-voc (18-25 YO people who lagged behind
academically, socially, and emotionally) I learned many things from the
"masters" (those teachers who dedicated themselves to their students and
their profession). One common theme that ran from classroom to classroom
and teacher to teacher was the determination to help their students fit in
with the world outside the classroom.

To accomplish this, the student had to learn ways to be as self-sufficient
as possible and ways to minimize those traits/factors that made them
"special eddies". Pardon the insensitive name; but the harsh reality is
that it's a tough world for most everybody and tougher for those not as
equipped as you and I may be. In spite of this or because of this, those
teachers were determined to help their students achieve. NOT by giving them
anything. NOT by leading them down gentler paths. But by insisting that
they explore and expand their areas of strength. I can assure you, Rebecca,
that they would appreciate your compassion but they would not, could not
endorse your belief that we should award the highest honors just because
one has "tried" a task.

Instead recognition and applause are given at each step gained. Then
support, encouragement and strategies are given for the next step(s) about
to be taken. Celebrations were awarded when ultimate goals reached. Those
who made it were very aware that the honor was truly theirs! They became
inspirations for other persons with similar disabilities and to their
teachers and families.

I appreciate your courage in taking the stand you have and expressing your
genuine concern. Please consider my words as food for thought and not as
incendiary (you shouldn't need the flame-retardant suit:))

Pat

As for what I call myself at this stage of non-competition? I am an
enduring rider:) with aspirations of being an endurance rider. As for my
horse? He's my durable doable guy who has no idea what this is all about:)